Polished concrete floors are very attractive and resilient. These types of floors can withstand a considerable amount of wear and tear and require very little maintenance. However, this doesn’t mean that the surface is completely problem-free. At Custom Concrete Floors, we want our customers to make an informed decision so we’ve put together a list of common problems that occur with polished concrete floors.

Discolouration and Stains

This isn’t a problem with a freshly poured concrete slab, but if you have an old, discoloured and oil-stained floor, you may have a reason to worry. The polishing process might remove the stains if they’ve not penetrated too deep into the concrete and this will give you an even and clear finish. But if the stains have penetrated into the old floor, polishing the slab won’t hide them. In fact, the process might even highlight them. That’s why it’s important to inspect the condition of the floor carefully before it’s polished.

Waves

Polished floors have a shine to them and even the matte finish will reflect light to some extent. If the floor is perfectly level, you don’t have to worry about the gloss or appearance. But if the floor isn’t level, you’ll see waves on the surface wherever light reflects off the polished surface and this doesn’t look that great. These waves will emphasize on the unevenness of the floor and have an impact on the overall design of your property.

Edges

The edges of the concrete floor are always less dense because they are hand troweled. The denseness of the floor has an impact on the overall quality of the polish. If the surface is hard and dense, the polish is clear and glossy. If it’s not as dense, the polish will be slightly dull and wavy. You won’t get a clear, consistent polish from one corner of the floor to another so if you want perfect edges, you might want to choose a different option.

Slippery

Polished concrete floors are very smooth and can be slippery when wet. If you expect your floor to be wet regularly, you should choose a different option or add some sort of texture to the floor. Because concrete is a hard floor, falls can be painful and cause injuries.